Listing the 100 greatest American movies of all time is a difficult feat, but in 1998, and later on in 2007, the American Film Institute attempted to take on the challenge. Some of these films are instantly recognisable classics like The Wizard of Oz or Star Wars. Others are relics that barely any modern moviegoer would recognise, like Swing Time or Intolerance. But all of them had some sort of massive influence on the films we watch today, and all are discussed, analysed, and picked apart on Earwolf’s podcast Unspooled.
The rapport between actor Paul Scheer and film critic Amy Nicholson is the backbone of the show, the two bouncing off each other with wit and intelligence. In the earlier episodes of Unspooled, Amy and Paul took a while to find a natural rhythm, with Amy sometimes dismissing films she doesn’t enjoy a little too quickly and Paul leaving a lot of the analysis up to her. But now 44 episodes later, both hosts have noticeably improved their presentation skills and ability to break down movie themes and metaphors, providing interesting perspectives and displaying strong research skills.
The result is a podcast that genuinely cares about the history and development of American cinema; from its roots in the silent era with Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, through to the Golden Age classics of Casablanca and Singin’ in the Rain, the subversive New Hollywood era that saw the rise of filmmakers like Spielberg and Scorsese, and finally on to the modern classics such as Titanic and Toy Story. The list is hugely varied, and the show moves through it in a random order week by week determined by a 100-sided dice. One week’s focus might be the inspiring 70’s sports drama Rocky, while the next might be the hard-hitting World War II epic Schindler’s List. But Paul and Amy give equal attention to each movie, dissecting their structure, substance, and historical significance to determine what makes them so special.
Unspooled also understands that not every classic movie is enjoyable in the traditional sense. You wouldn’t be the first person to leave a screening of 2001: A Space Odyssey wondering what the hell you just watched, or found yourself stuck trying to figure out why Citizen Kane is such a revered film. The point is that we’ve all been in similar positions after watching a classic movie where we struggle to see the appeal at all. Sometimes we might even feel a little bit dumb for not liking it like we’re supposed to. Unspooled is hugely helpful here, delving into what each film represented at its point in history and the specific ways it inspired future filmmakers.
And the true test of a particular film’s influence, according to Amy? If there has been a reference to it in The Simpsons, then it checks out. And so far, there have been way more hits than misses.
But the purpose of Unspooled isn’t to tell you whether you should like these movies or not. Not every movie is for everyone, and the entire field is completely subjective. Amy and Paul often have their disagreements about whether certain films deserve to be on this Top 100 list at all, and this fuels discussions of whether these movies are truly brilliant, or simply just respected because no one has ever questioned them. There are no pretensions that just because the AFI selected these films, these must objectively be the 100 best of all time. Amy and Paul have opinions just like the rest of us, and they manage to strike that perfect balance of giving each movie their due while remaining sincere.
A highlight of every episode is the guest interview, in which they talk to either an expert in an area related to the film’s subject (such as a primatologist for the episode on King Kong) or a person who was directly involved in the film’s making (like the actress Katharine Ross from The Graduate). These often shed new light on the movies, revealing fresh knowledge and perspectives on these films that have become so ingrained in our culture.
Unspooled has a very active online community in the Facebook group Unspooled Podcast Group and on Twitter @unspooled. Members will often focus on the podcast’s movie of the week, but there is also plenty of discussion on film in general, particularly regarding which current movies may make a future Top 100 American Films list. For film buffs, casual podcast listeners, or for anyone with an interest in American cinema, Unspooled makes for a thoughtful and stimulating listen. Amy and Paul are excellent hosts, leading engaging film-based discussions and presenting them in an easily digestible format available on iTunes and Stitcher.
